Posts from United Kingdoms Auto-translated

So, you're not coming with me, Ar?

testmessage

After thanking Elsor for his answer, Abigail spent some more time browsing the selection but ultimately decided to save her money for now and headed to the "Horn of Plenty." Although the information Heos had provided was undoubtedly useful, searching for buyers in other cities could take too much time, and there was no guarantee of success. Not to mention the risk of losing all potential profits if she visited a place like Liskyv. Besides, Dissen had other plans, so she wanted to deal with selling the hide as soon as possible.

- That's a pity," replied the Menasite. - Do you happen to know where I can find it?

- I can write a recipe using it, but it will cost you 30 silver coins.

Myrna asks the guards if any events are expected in the arena soon.

- You're too early; tournaments are held at the end of each season.

The sergeant checked one last time to make sure everything that could be gathered had been gathered.
"Let's head southeast straight towards Rivertown. We've done all we could do in this situation. If it works out, we'll meet up with that bastard again and take him down, and if not, then so be it. Let the gods hunt down every cockroach hiding in the cracks and strike them down with lightning – what more can we expect from them?
"Damn civilians, may you all rot."

Fortunately or unfortunately, on their way to Rivertown, the squad did not encounter the last bandit, nor any other threats. Unless, of course, Essen's constant hysterics were considered such. Villa, by comparison, was very obedient, never argued, and did everything she was asked to do.
- I hope that jerk doesn't pick us off one by one later," Gale pondered about what happened during their journey to the village. The fact that the leader of the bandits survived hit the morale of the squad hard – the euphoria after the crushing victory over the robbers evaporated and gave way to frustration. Julius reacted most calmly to what happened, or he simply didn't show his irritation.
The return to Rivertown began with a small drama: Essen, noticing her father working in the field, (as if) broke free and, sobbing, rushed into his arms. After some time, half the village gathered at the scene. Tears streamed down the elder's face, sad but also joyful. He was happy to see his granddaughter alive, but had no hope that she was unharmed – her disfigured and emotionless face spoke for itself. Then, gathering his strength, he turned to the soldiers and fell to his knees before them, sincerely thanking them and apologizing for the fact that due to their poverty and bandit attacks, they had nothing to reward them with.

Having thanked Elsor for the answer, Abigail spent some more time studying the assortment, but ultimately decided to save money for now and headed towards "Horn of Plenty." Although the information told by Heos was undoubtedly useful, searching for buyers in other cities could take too much time, even if it were successful at all. Not to mention the risk of losing all possible profits when visiting somewhere like Liskhiv. Besides, Dissen still had some plans, so she wanted to deal with selling the hide as soon as possible.

- Good day to you, madam," said the Menasite with a wide smile, - please, look around; I am sure you will find something to your liking!

— I can write a recipe using it, but it will cost you 30 silver coins.

- Are you kidding me?

I use charm.
- 30?? And what does this potion do? I want to know what justifies such a price.

“And a good day to you,” the Menasian woman said politely, nodding. “Although, to be honest, I didn’t come here to shop. On the contrary, I came to offer you something.” After saying these words, the woman took a bag containing the remains of a bone serpent off her shoulder and opened it slightly, showing the merchant its contents.

— You’re too early, the tournaments are held at the end of each season.

— And that guy, — Mirna nodded towards the lone inhabitant of the arena, — is he… waiting for the end of the season?

- Don't start playing the victim, old man. I've thought of everything, - the warrior interrupted the elder's lamentations and pulled a list out of his pocket.
- These are various ingredients used in medicine - our doctor needs to replenish his supplies. Surely, some of them grow here in the vicinity. If you have any, we'll take them. If not, gather something, but don't go overboard, so you don't get lost in the forest, because we won't look for you. And if anyone sees or hears a person or a group of people, they should immediately and quietly run away as fast as they can and report it. If my doctor asks for anything else, help him. You'll have time. My men and I will stay in your beautiful village for a few days. Surely, that won't be a problem? - Helmut said in an engaging but firm tone and patted the elder on the shoulder. - My warriors, who have shed blood, need rest and treatment before returning to Silvergard. We won't bother you too much; we'll take some small house on the edge of the village and settle in, or we'll set up camp nearby. I think... one or two... or three... at most four days will be enough. We have some food with us, so we won't eat you out of house and home. But if you offer us to share some of your simple food in gratitude, we won't refuse. And I remember, you had a guy here who looked like a hunter or something like that. Bring him to me.
The sergeant nodded to emphasize the seriousness of what he said and turned to the squad.
- Ah yes, - he stopped halfway. - The woodcutters are dead, the sawmill is burned. You'll have to celebrate your next holiday without them.
He shrugged and continued walking, but stopped again and snapped his fingers.
- Yes, and one more thing. As you may have noticed, we have your son in our squad, and as I could see, his reputation here is zero. I sincerely and wholeheartedly hope that none of your villagers will do anything stupid or provoke him in any way. Because, you see, father, - making things difficult for us is making things difficult for his Excellency, the Count. Not to mention that it would simply be rude.

Having finished enlightening the elder, Helmut turned to his soldiers and told them what was happening.
- The plan is simple: the savage returns to his home, but instead of four sons and two daughters, he finds four mutilated corpses, already gnawed on by vermin and beasts, none of whom made it to Reimsgard, as well as an insulting message written in feces on his wall, and his daughters - have been kidnapped. He is faced with the question - who could have done this? Maybe some mercenaries, or maybe an army, but who specifically and from where? The only way to find out is to return to the village, where these cowards were probably taken, and ask the locals under the threat of an axe. So, if I were in his place, a fierce savage, I would rush here with bloodshot eyes, where we will crush his cockroach, - the sergeant hit his fist against his palm loudly. - And this, soldiers, is not some made-up scheme, as it might seem at first glance, but official guidelines from the military doctrines of the army of Leito, the most powerful military machine in history. Section - psychological warfare. This is when you provoke the enemy into actions that are beneficial to you. Learn from your sergeant, young men.
He stuck a pin on the map, marking the location of the operation.
- If he doesn't show up in a few days, it means he screwed up and ran away. Or maybe he hasn't returned yet, and then we did the right thing by leaving. In any case, we have nothing to lose - we'll rest a little before returning to the barracks, and there is still enough time to complete the mission, so we won't be worse off. Besides, we need to give these kind people, who have nothing to offer in gratitude, a chance to show that gratitude.
Helmut lowered his voice and gave it the most threatening and stern tone.
- I hope I don't need to explain that during our duty, the strictest discipline will be in effect? No violence, provocations, scandals, or conflicts with the locals! No extortion, threats, bullying, or theft! NO - Vig, I'm especially addressing you! - flirting, harassment, getting people drunk, or raping local girls. In general, stay away from the locals, don't interact with them unnecessarily, and don't leave our camp. In a few days, we will return with a successfully completed mission and become richer, so don't screw it up, soldiers. One mistake - your ear is cut off. A second mistake - your balls are cut off. No mistakes - a fun drunken party with whores upon our return to Silik.
He looked seriously into each of their faces.
- Vig, I suggest you stay in your old house. I don't think anything should have happened to it, at most it's covered in dust and cobwebs. Any questions?

I'll respond when I figure out the dates and the budget (anamused).

- What the hell are you doing?

Using Charm.
- 30?? And what does this potion do? I'd like to know why it costs so much.

— The price is for potential profit,” the saleswoman calmly replied.

“And a good day to you too,” the meranth politely nodded. “Although, truthfully, I didn’t come here to shop. On the contrary, I came to offer you something.”
After saying these words, the girl took off a bag with the remains of a bone serpent from her shoulder and opened it slightly, showing the merchant its contents.

— Hmm,” the man carefully examined the remains of the dead beast, — I must admit, there are almost no useful applications for such goods, and its condition leaves much to be desired. I understand that this may sound disappointing, but if you don’t believe me, you can ask around at the market; hardly anyone will want to buy it. However, if you plan to become a regular customer of my store, I can buy everything from you for, say, 20 silver coins.

-- And that guy," Mirna nodded towards the lone inhabitant of the arena, "is he... waiting for the end of the season?

— He said he came to see what's going on here.

- Wigg, I suggest you settle in your former home. I don't think anything should have happened to it, at most - it might be covered in dust and cobwebs. Any questions?

The prospect of waiting for an unknown person under conditions of strict discipline did not appeal to the soldiers, but the situation was clear, and they had no questions. Resigned to this state of affairs, they began to lick their wounds and wait.
Wigg’s house really turned out to be unoccupied, and by fortunate coincidence, the villagers tried to stay away from it, as if the dwelling itself were a vile and dirty place, which one would not like to step onto its threshold without extreme necessity.
However, one of the villagers had to sacrifice this precaution.

“My name is Vikhl. The elder said that you wanted to see me.”

Ronard wakes up, leaves his crossbow and bolts under the bed, extends his stay for another day, exchanges a few words about the weather and life with the landlady, and heads to the slums, to the site of yesterday's battle. As he approaches the scene, he switches to stealth mode.

Ronard wakes up, leaves the crossbow and bolts under the bed, extends his stay for another day, exchanges a few words about the weather and life with the landlady, and goes to the slums, to the site of yesterday's battle; as he approaches the scene directly, he switches to stealth mode.

Today, there was an unusually large number of guards in the slums for this area. Access to the site of yesterday's incident is now blocked, but thanks to his inconspicuousness, Ronard managed to get through.

Where there were two canned corpses yesterday, now two people stood and talked about something. Both had very serious faces, but Ronard was still too far away to hear the details of their conversation.

We only live once, you know.
Ronard is trying to sneak up to within hearing distance.

— He said he came to see what's going on here.

— I see, — the barmaid sighed, a little disappointed. Then she thought, why not ask the guard more directly? Men often hesitate, come up with elaborate plans with many unknown variables, but the guard might simply have a ready answer that many in Pilas know. — Tell me, if you had to show Girion Grimm that you are a good warrior, how would you proceed in the current situation?

Ronard tries to sneak within earshot.

Ronard manages to do what he intended, and after a few short moments, he is close enough to hear the dialogue.
— ... Do you think it's someone from his family or friends?
— Maybe. Or maybe it's just a vigilante. No one else should have a reason to attack your guys, unless they just happened to run into some psychopath.
— Damn it!... What are we going to do?
— I'll do my job, and you'll do nothing. And hold off on the Pilas operation for now; we don't need any extra attention right now. If the Count or Lograine find out, we'll be in trouble.

-- I see, -- the donor sighed a little disappointedly. And then she thought -- why not ask the guard more directly? Men often hesitate, come up with clever plans, with many unknown conditions, but the guard may simply have a ready answer that many in Pilas know. -- Tell me, if you had to show Girion Grimm that you are a good warrior, how would you act in the current situation?

The guards first laughed, but then gave a serious answer - it is better to ask Dorness about such questions.
— He is the owner of the local tavern and a famous warrior in the past.